Apple Foldable iPhone Could Cost Nearly $3,000

Apple’s first foldable iPhone could cost nearly $3,000 with higher storage options, positioning the device as one of the most expensive iPhones Apple has ever sold.

Former Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly played an unusually active role in bringing the foldable iPhone to market, pushing Apple to accelerate development after seeing growing adoption of foldable smartphones from Samsung and Huawei in Asia.

Apple initially worked towards a starting price of $1,999 for the foldable iPhone. The company wanted to remain below the psychologically important $2,000 level, similar to how the iPhone X launched at $999 in 2017 rather than crossing $1,000.

However, Apple has more recently discussed a starting price of $2,199 as the global memory shortage increases component costs. Higher-storage versions could approach $3,000.

The pricing would place the foldable significantly above conventional flagship smartphones and reflects Apple’s expectation that there is a market for an even more expensive iPhone. Customers already spend close to $2,000 on some iPhone configurations after selecting larger storage capacities.

The foldable would also enter a smartphone segment that remains relatively small despite years of development by Android manufacturers.

Global foldable smartphone shipments reached about 19.6 million units in 2025, up 18% from a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Research. Foldables still represented only around 1.6% of total global smartphone shipments during the year. Counterpoint expects the category to expand significantly following Apple’s entry.

Apple would therefore be entering a market already established by Samsung, Huawei and other Android manufacturers, but one that has yet to achieve mainstream smartphone volumes. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series has been one of the most prominent book-style foldable products, while Huawei has also developed a substantial position in the segment.

Foldable shipments reached a record quarterly level in the third quarter of 2025, growing 14% year-on-year. Foldables accounted for about 2.5% of global smartphone shipments during that quarter.

Apple’s work on a folding device started long before the product was ready for consumers.

Its hardware engineering teams had reportedly been studying folding displays, phones and related components for years, including before Samsung launched the original Galaxy Fold in 2019.

One early concept involved an iPad mini-sized device that could unfold into a larger tablet. Apple internally debated what form its first folding product should take before Cook pushed for a more mainstream foldable iPhone.

Cook reportedly became particularly interested in the category around 2020 after returning from a trip to Asia, where he observed more consumers using foldable smartphones from Samsung and Huawei.

Apple then concentrated development on several of the technical problems that continue to affect foldable smartphones. These included reducing the visible crease in the folding display, improving hinge reliability, developing flexible cover glass for the internal screen and creating under-display camera technology.

The company eventually developed a hinge using titanium and aluminium, together with custom cover glass developed with Corning.

Reducing display creasing has become an important competitive area across the foldable market. Current foldable manufacturers have continued refining hinge mechanisms, ultra-thin glass and internal display structures as the category develops. Counterpoint has identified improvements in hinges, ultra-thin glass and structural complexity as important factors for wider adoption of foldable smartphones.

The first foldable iPhone is expected to use a book-style design with a 7.8-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch external screen. Apple reportedly developed a shorter and wider shape than some competing foldables.

During development, its proportions when folded were compared internally with a passport, while its unfolded shape was compared with Apple’s Magic Trackpad.

The unusual proportions appear intended to distinguish Apple’s device from existing Android foldables rather than directly reproduce their taller designs.

There are expected to be compromises.

The foldable model could be less durable than a conventional iPhone and may have shorter battery life. Its camera system is also expected to be below the level offered by Apple’s highest-end conventional iPhones.

Apple nevertheless appears confident that demand will exceed the number of devices it can initially manufacture.

The product will also arrive at an important time for Apple’s leadership.

John Ternus officially became Apple CEO on 1 September 2026, succeeding Cook, who moved to the role of executive chairman. Apple announced the leadership transition in April after its board unanimously approved the succession plan.

Ternus previously led Apple’s hardware engineering organisation and was closely involved in moving the foldable iPhone towards commercial production. That makes the device one of the most significant hardware launches at the start of his tenure as CEO.

Apple also enters the foldable market from a strong position in conventional smartphones. The company accounted for about 20% of worldwide smartphone shipments in 2025, when its shipments increased 10% year-on-year, according to Counterpoint Research. Samsung followed with a 19% share.

Apple has officially scheduled its “Surprise and shine” event for 9 September at 10am Pacific Time. In Malaysia, the event begins at 1am on 10 September. Apple has confirmed the event timing but has not publicly confirmed the foldable iPhone or its specifications ahead of the launch.

If the foldable iPhone is introduced at the event, it would mark Apple’s first entry into a smartphone form factor that Android manufacturers have been selling commercially since 2019. It would also extend Apple’s premium iPhone strategy into a price category that could reach nearly $3,000 for the highest-storage configurations.